Pune : Pune is known for encroachment of hills and development of settlement on it. Similar case has come forward. However, District authorities of Pune this time have pressed charges on the builders. The Pride World City is guilty of excavating illegally in the area of the holy hill known as Khandobacha Maal. After all the hearings and inspection he Pimpri-Chinchwad tehsildar has fined Pride World City builders with Rs 25 lakh for excavating illegally.Pride World City is a project said to be spread out in 400 acres in Charholi Budruk near Lohegaon.
According to the district administration, reports generated by local revenue authorities and Electronic Total Station (ETS) machines, ‘the conclusion was made that there has been illegal excavation on the hillside. As per the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1996, under Sections 48 (7) and 48 (8) the developer is liable for a fine of Rs 25 lakh which must be deposited to the state government without any delay.
The complaint was lodged by an expert member Dhananjay Jadhav of Tree Authority of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in February this year and according to that the action was taken. Jadhav alleged, the builders had illegally excavated 434 brass of raw minerals from the hill which was beyond the permissible limit and disobey the environmental assessment act. The hill is famously known as the temple of Lord Khandoba.
Illegal excavation means violation of the norms set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Fully grown trees have been plucked which can result in the landslide during monsoons and can destroy other housing projects based downhill, alleged Jadhav.